(HBO) - On June 26 evening, at the Cultural Palace of Hoa Binh province, the Department of Performing Arts, in collaboration with the Vietnam Musicians' Association and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hoa Binh province, held the closing and awarding ceremony of the 2023 National Traditional Musical Instrument Solo and Orchestra Competition.
The competition was held in Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province, from June 10-14, and in Hoa Binh city, Hoa Binh province, from June 20-26, drawing the participation of nearly 1,500 artists from 39 troupes across the country with 190 solo and ensemble performances. In 11 days of competition, artists and musicians brought to music-lovers impressive performances that not only showed the quintessence of traditional music, but also contained valuable historical and cultural values of Vietnam’s ethnic groups.
The "Chieng Muong thuc giac” performance by the Ethnic Art Troupe of Hoa Binh province wins a second prize.
Traditional art troupes clearly showed their regional and local music characteristics, while music and dance ones demonstrated their modernity in bringing Western instruments, vocals or other effects to support traditional musical instruments. With a length of 30-45 minutes for both solo and ensemble performances, each unit introduced to the audience its unique musical features.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism awarded 30 first, 51 second and 12 third prizes. Meritorious artist Tran Quoc Dat of the Military Music and Dance Theatre was granted the excellent conductor title, while Son Si Phone of the Khmer Anh Binh Minh Art Troupe in Tra Vinh province won the best musician award.
The Vietnam Musicianss Association awarded certificates of merit to 18 outstanding figures in instrumenting, performing, rising stars and musicians who made great efforts in the competition./.
Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.
Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.
The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.
The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.
For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.
Muong calendar, known as sach doi, is an ancient folk knowledge system developed through observations of the movement of the pleiades star. This unique calendar consists of 12 bamboo sticks, each representing a lunar month. Specific days within each month are marked with distinct symbols, guiding locals in determining auspicious and inauspicious days for important activities.
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